You are here

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Testing Submission

Effective October 9, 2018

For Farmed Cervidae

Collect a section of brain stem that includes obex and one medial retropharyngeal lymph node. Place both tissues in 10% buffered formalin (ensure formalin does not freeze). If buffered formalin is not available, tissues can be packed in a hard container in ice and submitted fresh. It is also acceptable to submit frozen tissues when submission is delayed, although this method is less desirable. Please use the CWD Submission Form and provide the owner's name, address, animal identification, species, sex and age. (Please download the form for a fillable document.) Form should be within the shipping box but separated from the ice packs and/or sample.

An entire frozen head can also be submitted for an additional charge. (A 10% out of state surcharge applies for out-of-state submissions).

Please Note: It is critical for test accuracy that the proper lymph node be submitted. Improper samples will be reported as unsuitable for testing. If you would like training on CWD sample submission procedures, please contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at 651-296-2942 or toll free at 800-627-3529.

For Wild Cervids

Collect one or both medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Large animal veterinarians and a video on the DNR website can offer assistance, if needed. Place tissues in 10% buffered formalin (ensure formalin does not freeze). If buffered formalin is not available, fresh tissues can be packed in a hard container (so they do not get crushed) and submitted on ice. It is also acceptable to submit frozen tissues in a hard container when submission is delayed, although this method is less desirable. Please use the Necropsy Sample Submission Form - Ruminant (page 3 of link) and request CWD testing for hunter-harvested deer. Please print the owner's name, address, email address (for results report) species and animal sex. Form should be within the shipping box, but separated from the ice packs and/or sample.

An entire frozen head can also be submitted for an additional charge. (A 10% out of state surcharge applies for out-of-state submissions)

Please Note: It is critical for test accuracy that the proper lymph node be submitted. Improper samples will be reported as unsuitable for testing. If you would like training on CWD sample submission procedures, please contact the Minnesota DNR.

Testing is done by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and results are typically available in two weeks.